Singapore is exploring solar photovoltaic (PV) roof tiles that could allow heritage buildings to generate clean electricity without compromising their traditional appearance, as the Energy Market Authority (EMA) steps up efforts to advance solar technologies through partnerships with public and private sector organisations. EMA will collaborate with Swiss technology innovation centre CSEM and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to pilot the use of solar PV roof tiles on heritage State buildings. Designed to resemble traditional clay roof tiles, the technology could enable more roof space to generate clean electricity while preserving the overall appearance of historic properties. Traditional clay-tile roofs are an integral part of the character of Singapore’s heritage precincts....
A Swiss-Polish research team has achieved up to 97.9 per cent relative density in extrusion-printed AA6061 aluminium by removing the solvent-debinding stage and extending the sintering process. The approach offers a potential alternative to conventional processing routes for sinter-based aluminium additive manufacturing, where oxidation has remained a major obstacle. The study, led by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), was published in Progress in Additive Manufacturing on October 15, 2026. An earlier version appeared as a preprint in May, making the journal publication the latest stage in the research’s release. The researchers combined a single-step wick-debinding process with a longer sintering hold to improve the density of printed aluminium...
Grow with
AL Circle
While many countries are retaliating against the United States with counter-tariffs, Thailand is taking a different approach - considering reducing existing taxes on American goods. But why? The goal is to boost imports from the US and, in return, secure a favourable trade deal from the Trump administration. Image source: Trends Research & Advisory Thailand is among the countries hit with a steep tariff rate of 36 percent—significantly higher than expected. Despite this, Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira stated the Thai government was in no rush to initiate talks with the US. Rather, they chose to wait until their proposals were prepared. Mr Pichai will now take the proposals forward for negotiations. The Thai government aims to establish a balanced trade relation with the United...
The United States President, Donald J Trump, has announced a partial reprieve (a chunk of the additional ones, actually) from his reciprocal tariff imposition till July 9, 2025. India, which had been hit with a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff effective from April 9, has caught a temporary breather. But analysts warn — now is not the time for aluminium producers to let their guard down. The announcement to reprieve India and others from reciprocal tariff In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared, “Based on the fact that more than 75 countries have called representatives of the US to negotiate a solution and that these countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorised a 90-day pause, and a substantially lowered...
Paschal, a Bahrain-based concrete formwork solution provider, has introduced its new range of powder-coated aluminium formwork panels. This is an extended version of the company’s NeoR range of lightweight formwork. Image source: Paschal The new NeoR range provides lightweight steel formwork panels and further lighter powder-coated aluminium panels. The latter weighs 23 kg and is 75cm x 150cm in size. The allowable pressure for fresh concrete is 50 kN/m², provided that the flatness tolerances specified in DIN 18202, Table 3, line 6, are maintained. NeoR strap 75 aids in connecting the steel panel powder-coated aluminium panels fast and firmly. This not only enhances durability but also the overall compatibility of the formwork panels. Similarly, the company's other product NeoR Multi...
ALRO has invested 8 million RON in a new aluminium plate cutting saw to improve processing capabilities and increase productivity to meet the rising demand. Image source: ALRO The latest equipment enhances ALRO’s ability to deliver customised aluminium plates with exact specifications. It also ensures greater precision and significantly reduces waste during production. By improving efficiency and output quality, the saw supports ALRO’s broader transition towards premium aluminium solutions. It contributes to sustainable practices and strengthens the company's long-term operational goals. This development comes after ALRO’s investment in the CUTSMART SYSTEMS facility, worth RON 13.7 million. The facility marks a shift towards providing finished aluminium components that require no further...
March has ushered in a striking divergence in the global bauxite landscape — North America and Asia are grappling with bloated inventories and cooling offtake. Au contraire, Europe, led by Germany, is scrambling to source feedstock amid a sudden uptick in industrial appetite. ChemAnalyst’s latest analysis flags this three-way split as ’a phase of divergence’ for bauxite prices and availability. The US: Surplus meets scepticism On this side of the Atlantic, producers and traders are wrestling with rising stockpiles and diminishing downstream demand. American bauxite prices have slipped as domestic mills and importers bulk up on material even as aluminium smelters pause expansion plans. There have been expansions in production houses, such as Bengang Plates Co.’s joint venture with Ansteel...
Capral Aluminium, an Australia-based national supplier and distributor of aluminium products, is now coming together with the Australian Made Campaign to promote locally manufactured aluminium extrusions to protect them from threats and uncertainties posed by global trade policies and tariff measures. Image source: Capral Impact of Recent Tariff on Australia Currently, the Australian aluminium industry is under significant pressure due to Trump’s recently imposed tariff making it difficult for the country to export to the United States. As a result, this is also creating mounting anxiety within the country concerning the rising trade disruption as well as the increased threat of dumped aluminium entering the threshold. Amidst this wake, it has become highly crucial to promote...
Alpro Extrusion Pvt. Ltd., a Kolkata-based aluminium extrusion company, has become an approved vendor of Indian railways. The announcement was made via their official LinkedIn post on 8 April 2025. This step strengthens Alpro’s support of India’s infrastructure and mobility growth. Image source: Company website Aluminium is central to Alpro’s operations, providing lightweight, durable and corrosion-resistant solutions for diverse industrial applications. The company delivers precision-engineered aluminium profiles that meet rigorous national standards. Alpro Extrusion currently has automatic hydraulic presses with a production capacity of 3,000 tonnes per annum. The company's net sales revenue is 0.33 per cent and EBITDA is -2.1 per cent. As an approved vendor, Alpro gains access to one...
In a retaliatory move that’s reigniting transatlantic trade tensions, the European Union has announced a fresh wave of tariffs on USD 2.3 billion worth of American goods, a countermeasure to what it calls 'illegal' duties imposed by the US on EU steel and aluminium. This move comes nearly six years after former President Donald Trump first ignited the trade spat by levying steep tariffs on imported steel (25 per cent) and aluminium (10 per cent) in 2018, citing national security concerns under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. While the Biden administration has sought to soothe trade relations, the EU’s patience appears to have worn thin. "The US has had ample time to remove these measures, which we believe are unjustified and in violation of WTO rules," said Valdis Dombrovskis,...
Following the successful launch of "Global Aluminium Industry 2025" in January 2025, AL Circle is proud to unveil the Lite Versions of the report—specially designed to offer sector-specific insights for professionals and businesses seeking targeted intelligence across the aluminium value chain. Available in four distinct formats, the Lite Versions provide deep dives into the following segments: Bauxite | Alumina Click here for TOC Bauxite | Alumina | Primary Aluminium (Upstream Sector) Click here for TOC Primary Aluminium | Recycled Aluminium Click here for TOC Downstream (Downstream – End User – Recycled) Click here for TOC These versions are crafted for ease of access, focused analysis, and sector-specific decision-making, empowering industry stakeholders with relevant data, market...
Valimet, based in Stockton, California, USA, has announced a non-binding agreement with APWORKS to produce Scalmalloy powder domestically through atomisation. Scalmalloy, a high-strength aluminium alloy specifically developed for additive manufacturing, is particularly well suited for various aerospace and defence applications. Scalmalloy is said to be the only alloy suitable for additive manufacturing that can effectively replace high-strength 7000 series aluminium alloys traditionally produced from plate or forging. With its low density, Scalmalloy offers exceptional strength-to-weight performance, making it highly competitive with even the strongest conventional alternatives. “In 2024, we were awarded a Phase I SBIR grant by the Defense Logistics Agency to support the atomisation of...
South Africa’s aluminium industry has breathed a communal sigh of relief following the announcement that aluminium will be exempt from the sweeping 30 per cent reciprocal tariffs unveiled by US President Donald Trump. The relief stems from a strategic carve-out for “critical minerals,” under which aluminium is classified, ensuring continued access to a vital export market for South African producers. On April 2, President Trump signed an executive order imposing reciprocal tariffs starting at 10 per cent on imports from most trading partners, with rates escalating to as much as 49 per cent for specific countries. However, Section 3(b) of the order explicitly exempts “certain critical minerals”, including aluminium, reflecting the administration’s recognition of America’s dependence on...
Ohio-based aluminium billet and slab manufacturer Matalco Inc. is set to shut down its Canton, Ohio, facility this summer. This announcement is expected to impact the life of 71 employees, with layoffs beginning on June 6 and continuing over a period of up to 90 days. The company produces the billets and slabs using recycled aluminium. According to a letter dated April 8, 2025, submitted to the Ohio Office of Workforce Development, the plant will begin the closure process on June 6. The notice was issued in compliance with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which requires companies with 100 or more employees to provide at least 60 days' advance notice before a plant closure or mass layoff involving 50 or more workers. The Canton site is one of seven...
ABx Group’s subsidiary, Alcore, is making steady progress on its pilot plant project near the Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania. The company has partnered with BFluor Chemicals and Kempe Engineering to support this initiative. Regulatory steps are also moving forward, with Alcore receiving official environmental guidelines from EPA Tasmania for its environmental effects report. Key components for the facility, such as the oleum plant and bath reactors, have been ordered and are scheduled for delivery by year-end. The pilot plant will showcase Alcore’s proprietary technology to convert aluminium smelting waste into valuable industrial chemicals, including hydrogen fluoride. The pilot plant, situated at a leased site next to Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay smelter, is designed to convert hydrogen...
As recently shared by Aluminium Corporation of China, popularly known as Chalco (HKG:2600, SHA: 601600), in the first quarter of 2025, the multinational aluminium production company expects a lucrative profit between RMB 3.4 billion (USD 476 million) and RMB 3.6 billion (USD 504 million). This announcement reflects an increase of 53 per cent to 63 per cent remunerative growth if compared with the previous year. Image source: Companies History Chalco is a state-owned multinational aluminium company with its headquarters in Beijing, China. It solely focuses on the production and distribution of aluminium products. The company's shares are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange as publicly traded companies. With the Q1 2025 financial prediction, Chalco is...
China’s ‘blow-for-blow’ strategy in response to the United States' 34 per cent reciprocal duty apparently leads to the addition of another round of tariff to the existing thread. On Tuesday, April 8, the US government threatened to impose an additional 50 per cent tariff on all Chinese products in retaliation, bringing the total tariff on China to 104 per cent. But this figure is not the full story. When accounting for the 25 per cent tariff on aluminium and steel imports that the United States imposed in March, the total tariff on China rises to a staggering 129 per cent. Image generated by AI for representational purpose The latest threat of a 50 per cent tariff is scheduled to take effect at midnight (CST time zone) on April 9, 2025, which was set as a deadline for China to reverse its...
On Monday in Luxembourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen formally put a “zero‑for‑zero” offer on the table. The EU would eliminate its tariffs on US cars and other industrial goods if Washington reciprocates by dropping its own levies to zero. The proposal comes just days after President Trump announced a 20 per cent tariff on virtually all remaining EU imports and a 25 per cent rate on steel, aluminium and autos, a move Brussels says threatens integrated supply chains on both sides of the Atlantic. However, US President Donald Trump has declined the offer and stood by his previous decision, stating to reporters at the White House, “The European Union has been very, very bad to us; they don’t take our cars, like Japan in that sense, they don’t take our agricultural...
In a bold leap toward the future of sustainable mobility and energy storage, Toshiba Corporation has introduced its latest advancement in lithium-ion battery technology—a new SCiB module specifically designed for use in electric buses, electric ships, and stationary energy systems. Engineered to meet the growing demand for high-power, rapid-charging applications, the new lithium-ion module features an innovative aluminium baseplate that delivers twice the heat dissipation of existing models. Scheduled for commercial release in mid-April 2025 across both Japanese and international markets, this next-generation battery module delivers approximately twice the heat dissipation performance of Toshiba’s existing modules. The new SCiB module represents a major leap forward in battery innovation...
Aldi is shaking things up in the wine aisle with the launch of its very first own-label aluminium wine bottle in the UK, making a bold move away from traditional glass. The new packaging will hit shelves on April 14, 2025, marking a big step forward in the supermarket’s sustainability journey. Image source: Aldi The aluminium metal is lightweight, fully recyclable and more durable than glass, not to mention it chills quicker, making it both eco-friendly and convenient. Aldi’s debut wine in this format is the Costellore Pinot Grigio, a light and refreshing Italian white, bottled in the UK in partnership with Broadland Drinks. The 75cl aluminium bottle weighs nearly 75% less than a glass bottle and comes in at an affordable £5.99. According to Aldi, this new format supports their wider...
